Abstract: A displacement, strain, and/or force sensor assembly (10, 110) has a mounting structure (12) with an anisotropic stiffness to facilitate the measurement of displacements, strains, and/or forces along the X-axis, while minimizing errors due to undesired displacements, strains, and/or forces along the Y- and Z-axes, and rotations about the X-, Y-, and Z-axes. A pedestal (30, 130) configured to respond to axial displacements along the X-axis is centrally disposed on the X-axis of the mounting structure (12), and a displacement or strain sensor (38) is coupled to the pedestal (30) to provide a measure of the displacements, strains, and/or forces. Contact pads (14, 114) are formed on opposite ends of the X-axis of the mounting structure, to enable the displacement and/or strain sensor assembly to be secured to an application structure.

Abstract: A displacement, strain, and/or force sensor assembly (10, 110) has a mounting structure (12) with an anisotropic stiffness to facilitate the measurement of displacements, strains, and/or forces along the X-axis, while minimizing errors due to undesired displacements, strains, and/or forces along the Y- and Z-axes, and rotations about the X-, Y-, and Z-axes. A pedestal (30, 130) configured to respond to axial displacements along the X-axis is centrally disposed on the X-axis of the mounting structure (12), and a displacement or strain sensor (38) is coupled to the pedestal (30) to provide a measure of the displacements, strains, and/or forces. Contact pads (14, 114) are formed on opposite ends of the X-axis of the mounting structure, to enable the displacement and/or strain sensor assembly to be secured to an application structure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing, evaluating, and/or calibrating strain sensors. A test beam (12) having a uniform shear-strain region is secured at opposite ends of a longitudinal axis by uniform force clamp assemblies (14) and (16). A first clamp assembly (14) at one end of the rectilinear test beam is configured to hold the rectilinear test beam (12) in a fixed position, while the second clamp assembly (16) at the opposite end is configured to enable application of torque to the test beam (12) about the longitudinal axis. Displacement sensors (60) in operative proximity to the second clamp assembly (16) provide data which is representative of the deflection of the test beam (12) about the longitudinal axis in response to the applied torque, while a torque sensor (62) provides data which is representative of the actual applied torque.